Arts Center Offers Plenty Of Choices

The winter session at the Hinsdale Center for the Arts will feature more than 100 classes in music, dance, theater and creative writing.

The following new or unusual classes may deserve a second look, said Executive Director Sherry DeVries.

Family and Youth Workshops

Holiday Tie-Dye for Everyone: Instruction will cover the techniques of tying, wrapping, folding, knotting and dyeing. Supplies and dyes will be included, but students must provide cotton shirts or items to work with. (Shirts will be available from the instructor at $5 or $7 each.) Children under 6 should be accompanied by an adult. The instructor will be Kim Ohms, who has taught classes at the center for six years and owns a design company. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec 19. Fee: $16 for center members, $19 for non-members.

Youth Art

Youth Drawing, Painting and Sculpture: The course is designed to teach children in 1st through 3rd grades to make art with a variety of materials. The final class will include a student exhibition; families may attend. The instructor will be Laura Mueller, who has been an instructor at several Chicago-area colleges and is a lecturer for the Museum Education Department of the Art Institute of Chicago. The eight-session class will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, Jan. 19 through March 9. Fee: $70 for center members, $78 for non-members.

Around the World With Puppets: Children in kindergarten through 2nd grade will learn how to create and manipulate hand puppets, marionettes and shadow puppets. The final class will be a performance for family and friends. The instructor will be Charmaine Spencer, the artistic director, playwright, puppet builder and performer of Charmaine & Company. The eight-session class will be held from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Saturdays, Jan. 20 through March 10. Fee: $75 for center members, $83 for non-members.

Junior Puppet Troop: Students in 3rd through 5th grades will learn how to write a fantasy tale and then create the hand-puppet characters for the story. The final class will be a performance for family and friends. The instructor will be Charmaine Spencer, the artistic director, playwright, puppet builder and performer of Charmaine & Company. The eight-session class will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Jan. 20 through March 10. Fee: $75 for center members, $83 for non-members.

Adult Art

Space Harmony Feng Shui: The ancient Chinese system of feng shui makes a dynamic relationship between the placement of people, buildings and property. Through a knowledge of feng shui, people are believed to be able to make themselves more compatible with nature, their surroundings and their everyday life, so that they can make an impact on their finances, health, and emotions. The class will focus on practical applications of feng shui in Western culture. Students will be taught the history of feng shui, the five Chinese elements and the synchro-alignment exercise. The instructor will be B.J. Gorman, who has been teaching feng shui for four years and has a feng shui consulting practice. The four-session class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, Feb. 1-22. Fee: $108 for center members, $117 for non-members.

Adult Art History

La Femmes D'Artes: The course will be an overview of women in the arts and their contributions to western civilization. Slides will be used. The instructor will be Dr. Phyllis Kozlowski, who holds a PhD in art education and is the chairwoman of the Arts and Humanities Department at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. The class will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 22. Fee: $16 for center members, $18 for non-members.

Illinois Artists: Some of the famous and not so famous artists who came from Illinois will be highlighted in this lecture. It will conclude with contemporary Illinois painters. Slides will be used. The instructor will be Dr. Phyllis Kozlowski, who holds a PhD in art education and is the chairwoman of the Arts and Humanities Department at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. The class will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. on Feb. 12. Fee: $16 for center members, $18 for non-members.

Professional Arts

Demystifying Marketing: This workshop is designed to provide a basic understanding of marketing principles for small to mid-size arts groups as well as individual artists. Topics will include defining artistic uniqueness, budgeting for marketing and taking advantage of free promotional opportunities. The instructors will be Julie Franz, national director of the Arts Marketing Center of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, and Deborah Obalil, the marketing center's assistant director. The class will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 20. Fee: $25 for center members, $30 for non-members.

Professional Practices for the Visual Artist: The class will highlight methods for professional presentation by visual artists. Presentation methods to be discussed will include how to take slides of art works, solo and juried exhibitions, what a jury looks for, how to write an artist's resume and where to apply for artist residencies. The presenters will be Susan Sazama and Martha Slaughter of the center's Exhibition Committee. The class will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Fee: $25 for center members, $30 for non-members.

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To register, go to the Hinsdale Center for the Arts 5903 S. County Line Rd., or call 630-887-0203.

Memberships are $30 for individuals, $35 for families, $20 for senior citizens and $25 for senior-citizen families. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.